< Chapter 86: School Trip (1) >
“Ha ha ha!”
Around, there were trees broken like chopsticks due to Goldie’s movement, rolling about.
“If you think you can handle Goldie, come and fight!”
“Tsk.”
Everyone swallowed their saliva at Goldie’s fierce look.
“That’s cheating….”
“How can we beat Goldie.”
Goldie is the icon of the Korean Superhuman Military Academy. Not to mention the cuteness, there’s even a witness account of fighting 1:1 with the tyrant Drake, thus literally becoming the most popular existence.
With the appearance booked on the pet program ‘Summoner’s Farm,’ it’s almost considered the academy’s top symbolic creature.
-Creak…
And such Goldie is baring its teeth at them.
Plus, I’m holding a bow above it as well.
There was no way they could choose to fight.
Destroying all the brooches of Class 1 students would be one way to proceed, but.
“If you don’t want to fight, I’ll make just one proposal.”
“A proposal?”
I decided to exclude that method for now. I don’t want to look bad in front of Class 1 students who I have to spend a year with.
“I don’t particularly want to take your brooches. I don’t need them.”
“You don’t need them?”
I don’t need their brooches in the first place.
“Why bother taking more when I’m already in the first place.”
“Ah.”
This test is a ‘relative evaluation.’
Whether you plunder 20 brooches to be in first place, or 40, it’s the same.
“So, how about we have a truce?”
“A truce?”
“Yes. I don’t need your brooches, and you don’t want to fight me, right?”
“…Right.”
Kim Chul-jin and the seven superhuman cadets he called the beta team looked at me and Goldie one after the other, swallowing their dry saliva again.
“So let’s cleanly end it here. What do you say?”
Borrowing the Tiger’s Fierceness,
The effect of my proposal, borrowing Goldie’s momentum, was very excellent!
“…Alright.”
“I agree.”
“I, I… never thought of fighting in the first place. Ha ha…,”
“I was thinking of hitting you from behind if you attacked!”
“You too? Hey, me too! Nice to meet you!”
“Let’s be thankful for Seo-yul’s mercy.”
They all quickly nodded.
Just as I expected.
“Then let’s inform Chul-jin and have a truce….”
“Ah. Wait a moment.”
Something occurred to me.
“Let me ask one thing. Did all the Class 1 students participate?”
“Yeah… Except for Ha Si-yeon and those who were eliminated?”
“Oh, Si-yeon refused, huh.”
I thought I hadn’t heard Si-yeon’s voice over the walkie-talkie.
That’s why.
“Yes. She said she didn’t want to fight you.”
“I see. So the instigator was only Chul-jin?”
“Tha, that’s right?”
“Okay.”
My smile deepened.
“Chul-jin.”
I spoke again towards the walkie-talkie.
―What?
Kim Chul-jin’s urgent voice came from the other end.
“The kids here and I have agreed to a truce, you know?”
―A truce?
“Yes. I don’t particularly need your brooches, and you don’t particularly want to fight me or Goldie, right?”
-…True?
“So let’s have a truce.”
―Really?
“Yes. I don’t want to be unnecessarily resented by Class 1 students.”
―Okay, deal. Everyone heard?
Chul-jin’s voice regained energy. He too didn’t want to fight Goldie much.
―Confirmed!
―Whew, that was close.
―Hey, hey, relax! Let’s sit comfortably now!
―Phew! Thought my heart was going to burst!
Sighs of relief came from the other teams.
“Ah, right. There’s something I forgot to tell you.”
―Forgot to tell? What?
My lips twisted into a wicked curve.
“I never said I would spare you, Chul-jin.”
―Wha···?
From the other end, Kim Chul-jin’s bewildered voice rang out.
“The instigator must be punished, right?”
―….
My smile reached my ears.
“Try running away.”
* * *
All the tests are over now.
It’s now Saturday, 7:30 in the evening.
We’re gathered at the accommodation arranged by the school, washing up and getting together for an after-party.
“I feel like I’ve used up a year’s worth of life.”
Kim Chul-jin is slouched at a nearby cafe. His face is weary as if he’s carrying all the fatigue in the world.
“I told you not to mess with Seo-yul for nothing.”
Looking at Kim Chul-jin, Ha Si-yeon is scooping up ice cream with the same expression as usual.
Her face doesn’t show much fatigue.
“Exactly.”
Kim Chul-jin sighs.
The difference between these two was their participation in the coalition to kill Kang Seo-yul.
Kim Chul-jin participated and thus was exhausted from being glared at by Kang Seo-yul.
Ha Si-yeon did not participate and was very fresh.
“But no matter what, isn’t Goldie cheating? How are we supposed to beat him?”
“Hmm.”
The spoon in Ha Si-yeon’s mouth clicked.
Ha Si-yeon didn’t participate in the plan to kill Kang Seo-yul simply because she didn’t want to face him.
Even though he hid his power, Kang Seo-yul was a half-elf and half-angel, a hero from a thousand years ago.
To Ha Si-yeon, who knew Kang Seo-yul’s identity, taking him on was nothing but a suicidal act.
“And Seo-yul’s counter is no joke. He targeted me for three full days, just like that…”
Being chased by Goldie and Kang Seo-yul for three days left an exaggerated traumatic memory.
Kang Seo-yul peeking out of the bushes.
Kang Seo-yul attacking from the air.
Kang Seo-yul slowly rising like a corpse from the water.
Kang Seo-yul calling his name in surround sound from all sides.
A creepy Kang Seo-yul crawling quickly on all fours.
Kang Seo-yul following him, pretending to be a shadow.
Kang Seo-yul hiding behind a wooden board shaped like Kang Seo-yul…
“Just like that… heuuu…”
Kim Chul-jin sighs deeply again.
“Ah. By the way, where’s Ji-hoon?”
To break this gloom, there’s no other way but to tease the early dropout, Choi Ji-hoon.
“Didn’t you hear? They say the lower-ranking ones have to take additional tests.”
“…Additional tests?”
“Yeah. Since those who were eliminated too early couldn’t be evaluated, they’re dividing the detailed rankings through additional tests.”
“I see.”
Kim Chul-jin accepts this.
Then he sighs deeply again.
“Ugh.”
He’s annoyed at not being able to tease Choi Ji-hoon.
How should he relieve this stress?
* * *
I was conversing with Goldie in Pi Jin Ho’s room.
“Since you didn’t break the rules of the test, the results will be processed normally.”
“That’s a relief.”
I sighed in relief.
I was worried about being accused of cheating, but it seems that was an unnecessary concern.
“Still, be careful as rules may be added from the next test.”
“Ah, I won’t be able to use Goldie in the practical exam?”
“Yes. It might be unfair from your standpoint, but I hope you understand.”
“It isn’t unfair. It’s only natural.”
I patted Goldie’s head.
Goldie is strong, too strong.
He is currently getting stronger due to the contract with the guardian.
As it is right now, he could beat Jia, the top-ranked in the grade, one-on-one.
Such abnormal strength doesn’t fit with the academy’s principle of fair competition.
I had roughly expected this would happen.
“By the way, I heard from Elder Jung Il-yong. He’s agreed to make Cheonbyeon for you?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
Pi Jin Ho smiled with a sigh.
“The elder praised you highly. Said I found a good successor.”
“…Haha.”
I scratched my cheek.
“I should have said earlier when I found a successor. He scolded me for that.”
Pi Jin Ho laughed bitterly.
“I’ve talked too long. You must be tired. Go in and rest.”
Pi Jin Ho got up from his seat and patted my back a few times.
“Yes. Understood.”
* * *
That night at 10 o’clock.
I was walking the streets of Australia at night with Goldie.
―Do you know how shocked I was when Goldie really disappeared?
Yu Hwa’s nagging voice came over the phone.
Normally, I would have made the call in my room, but my assigned room was for six people. Speaking to Yu Hwa in front of love-starved male students was like throwing meat amongst starving lions.
So, I took Goldie and went outside.
―I was sure he was sleeping in the room, but no matter how much I looked, he wasn’t there. I checked all the nearby CCTV footage, but there was no sign of him leaving.
“…Haha.”
―Really, my heart sank, you know?
“I’m, I’m sorry.”
I thought that summoning Goldie would confuse Yu Hwa, but things had moved so urgently that I had no choice.
―Even now, when I think of that time…
Yu Hwa’s grumbling continued for a while. I listened carefully to her words, filled with feelings of neglect.
Considering how worried she must have been when Goldie suddenly disappeared, I had nothing to say, even if I had ten mouths.
―Sigh. Anyway, you came in first place thanks to that, so I’ll let it slide.
After what felt like a long time, Yu Hwa seemed to have poured out all her grievances and said that with a sigh.
“Thank you.”
I looked up at the sky.
The night view of Australia had a different flavor from Seoul.
―So, you’ll be traveling together for the remaining duration of the trip?
“Yes. It has to be that way.”
The school said there would be no problem traveling with Goldie.
―That’s good. Have a good rest.
“I should.”
―Then I’ll hang up now. Call me if anything happens.
“Yes. Sleep well.”
―…I still have work left, you know?
“…Ah-ha. You must be having a tough time.”
I expressed my condolences.
―Sigh. Anyway, I’m really going to hang up now. Have fun.
“Yes. Take care.”
With that, the call ended.
The current time was 10:43 PM.
I couldn’t help but think of Jia, who was left alone in Korea.
“…Is she awake?”
Perhaps she couldn’t control her lingering time and was tossing and turning in sleep.
I left a message on KakaoTalk, just in case she was asleep.
[Jia, are you asleep?]
The reply came immediately.
[No! I was lying down!]
I was right.
[Can you talk on the phone for a moment?]
[Yes! Anytime!]
I immediately made a voice call.
―Ancestor!
Jia’s voice rang out loudly.
“I’m sorry. I meant to call right after the exam, but somehow the time got like this.”
―No! I’m thankful that you even called.
I could hear Jia’s laugh over the phone. An innocent laugh.
―Ah, but I heard from Siyeon! You came in first place?
“Yeah. Thanks to Goldie.”
―Congratulations.
“Thanks.”
I sat down on a nearby bench.
Goldie lightly jumped up and settled on my lap.
“How’s your body feeling?”
―Almost fully recovered. I did rehabilitation training today, and there was no pain even when I ran.
“That’s good.”
It had been a week, so it was time to get better.
―I want to be discharged right away, but Uncle Taejin and the doctor strongly opposed it…
Jia’s voice fell into gloom.
“Then you should rest more. Take this as an opportunity to rest well.”
“―I can rest at home too….”
“Mm.”
The hospital is certainly boring.
There’s nothing to do. The food doesn’t taste good either.
“But if you go home, you won’t rest, will you? With training, paperwork, and all that?”
“―….”
Jia had no answer.
“You won’t be going to school for a while. Instead, pursue a project you’ve always wanted to do.”
“―….”
“No matter how I think about it, I don’t think you’ll rest at all.”
Only a moaning sound of ‘Uh, Hmm’ came through the receiver.
It was something that couldn’t be denied.
That’s probably what she meant to do.
“Anyway, rest until the doctor says you can be discharged.”
“―…Yes.”
Her voice is gruff.
It seemed like I could see the image of Jia with pouting lips in front of me.
She’s usually more grown-up than adults, but she’s still a child at times like this.
Does she really hate resting that much?
“Oh. By the way, did you hear? Siyeon scored… in the recent test.”
“―Really? Then your ancestor….”
We continued with such trivial chatter.
“I’ll hang up now. It’s already past 11 o’clock.”
“―Ah….”
As we continued our enjoyable conversation, 20 minutes had already passed.
“―Yes.”
Her voice seemed a bit sulky.
She seemed reluctant to hang up.
Being alone in the hospital must be lonely. I know that feeling well.
“I’ll call you again tomorrow.”
“―Ah. Yes!”
Jia’s voice brightened up.
Is she so happy to talk to me? It’s not a bad feeling.
“Good night.”
“―Yes! Good night, Ancestor!”
With that, the call was ended.
“Sigh.”
I leaned my head back on the bench’s backrest and looked up at the sky.
Maybe because there’s less lighting than in Seoul. The stars looked more vivid.
“Nya.”
Goldie seemed to be following me, leaning against my stomach and looking up at the sky.
“Are you looking at the stars too, Goldie?”
It was so cute that I patted its belly.
“Kkiang.”
Goldie made a purring sound and rolled around.
Startled.
It suddenly tensed its body.
“Goldie?”
Then it got out of my arms and stood on the bench,
“Grrrrr….”
Growling in one direction. Goldie was sending out a hostile and murderous vibe in the empty air.
I widened my eyes and stared at that spot, wondering if something was there.
Black smoke started to ripple in the air.
“Perhaps I should call it the guardian beast of the elder. An impressive sense.”
The smoke soon took on a human form.
This familiar entrance and voice.
I grabbed my surprised heart and desperately kept my expression under control.
“Hermit, is it? For you to be caught by such a low-level guardian beast. I pretended not to notice just in case, but this is somewhat disappointing.”
The black smoke soon turned into Hermit.
“Yes, it’s my fault. Anyway, it’s nice to see you again.”
Hermit smiled with a much more relaxed expression than the last time we met.
…Ah, what a surprise.
< Chapter 86: School Trip (1) > End.
